Performance of Co and Meo pigs in multiplication herds
This study was conducted at the models of the Research and Development Institute - Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry (for Co pigs) and Nghe An Breeding Center (for Meo pigs) in 2018 - 2019 to evaluate the reproductive and growth performance of Co and Meo pig herds as a basis for increasing productivity and replication of these 2 pig breeds in Central provinces. Experiment I was conducted on a total of 120 Co sows and 120 Meo sows (60 of each breed in 2018 and 60 of each breed in 2019). Experiment II studied on 60 Co pigs (30 young boars + 30 gilts) and 60 Meo pigs (30 young boars + 30 gilts). Each breed, the pigs were kept together in 3 treatments (equivalent to 3 replicates), each treatment has 10 pigs of equal age, weight, housing conditions, veterinary and nurturing. When the pig are 8 months old, we recorded the final weight and back fat at point P2.
The results showed that the Co and Meo pig herds had their first estrous age at 220.12 and 211.16 days, their first mating age was 249.33 and 242.66 days, their first farrowing age was 361.25 and 356.58 days. The average weight of first mating ranged from 39.15 to 42.62 kg. The number of newborns/litter reached 7.45 to 7.51 piglets; the number of weaned pigs per litter was from 6.67 to 6.83; weaning weight/litter reached from 36.35 - 39.68 kg. The Co and Meo pigs weighed 38.97 to 42.52 kg at 8 months old. The average thickness of back fat at P2 was 12.47 - 12.59 mm. Average daily gain (ADG) during the period of 2 - 8 months old were from 186.19 to 203.72 g/head/day and the young boars always had higher ADG than gilts from 3.02% to 8.48%.
